A KINEMATIC ANALYSIS OF RUNNING WITH A RUNNING STROLLER

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if a woman's running motion is influenced by running with a running stroller (a three-wheeled carriage for young children to ride in while an adult runs). Twelve female volunteers were evaluated while running at a training pace both with and without a running stroller. Each woman was videotaped while running under four different conditions: without a running stroller, with an empty running stroller, with a 6.82 kg (15 lb) weight in the running stroller and with an 18.82 kg (41.4 lb) weight in the running stroller. The PEAK Performance 2D Motion Measurement System, a manual digitizing program, was used to analyze the data Eight points per frame were digitized from a complete stride (approximately 45 frames) from each condition. Stride lengths, smde rates, velocities, and body angles were measured on each subject. A computerized statistics program, Kwikstat, was utilized in the analysis of the data The results of a repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that average velocities decreased, smde lengths shortened and smde rates increased when subjects used the running stroller. Subjects also displayed a greater forward lean, a decrease in hip angle, a decrease in range of motion of the arms and elbows, and a restriction of the pumping action of the arms while running with the running stroller. The increased forward lean may put the runner at greater risk for lower extremity injury and compromise the respiratory position. The contribution of the arms to lifting the body during the running motion may also be limited, causing a possible decrease in velocity and an increased demand on the work of the legs. More research needs to be completed on this increasingly popular dimension of running.